Canada’s 10 Best Island Holiday Destinations

By KAT TANCOCK

Cape Breton Island (Photo: Nova Scotia Tourism)

When we think of island vacations, the tropical always springs to mind: hot sun, sand, flip-flops and a fruity drink with an umbrella. But Canada has islands on offer, too, with a lot more to attract visitors than you might think. Here are 10 picks to consider for your next vacation.

A prime whale-watching destination—right, minke and occasionally blue whales make their way nearby—<a href="http://www.brierisland.org/">Brier Island</a> lies off the mainland at the westernmost point of Nova Scotia, where the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine converge. While there are few roads for driving (and few of those paved) there are many hiking and cycling trails. Craft lovers should consider a <a href="http://www.hookingbythesearetreats.com/">Hooking by the Sea Retreat</a> with local resident and expert rug hooker Vicki Graham.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Amateur geologists: may your way to the shore for rockhounding. Specimens on the island include jasper, agate, zeolite and amethyst.

Off BC's northwest coast, this string of islands is Canada's westernmost point and feels a bit like the edge of the world. Outdoor activities abound: surfing, fishing, cycling or kayaking, or making your way down to <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index.aspx">Gwaii Haanas National Park</a> to see ancient forests, Haida village sites and weathered totem poles. On the <a href="http://www.gohaidagwaii.ca/what-to-do/art-route-tour/">Art Route Tour</a>, you can visit galleries and artisans, and perhaps find something to take home. <br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Once known to the country as the Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii—it means "islands of the people"—was officially renamed by the BC government in 2010 as part of a reconciliation agreement with the Haida nation.

Popular for summer getaways, the <a href="http://www.visit1000islands.com/visitorinfo/">Thousand Islands</a> are rife with opportunities for fishing, motor boating, diving, canoeing and kayaking, or, on dry land, golfing and hunting. The U.S.-Canada border runs through the islands, and on the American side, worth a visit is Boldt Castle, a 120-room complex that was intended as a symbol of millionaire George C. Boldt's love for his wife; construction was halted in 1905 following her sudden death.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> There are actually 1,864 islands split between the U.S. and Canada. Unofficially there are more, but to be included in the official tally, islands must be above water all year round, be more than a square foot in size and be home to at least one living tree.

Baffin Island is a faraway destination most Canadians will never see, but as an entry point to the far north it offers experiences you're unlikely to find elsewhere. Extreme adventures in <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index.aspx">Auyuittuq National Park</a> include ski-touring, climbing and backcountry hiking and camping, with never-ending daylight to keep you going all night. Be sure to sample local delicacies such as Arctic char, caribou, walrus or whale.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> At more than 500,000 square kilometres, Baffin is Canada's largest island and more than half the size of Ontario but has only about 10,000 permanent residents, around two-thirds of whom live in the territorial capital of Iqaluit.

Named after Mount Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, <a href="http://www.heclatourism.mb.ca/">Hecla Island</a> in Lake Winnipeg is about a three-hour drive north of Manitoba's capital. Part of a string of islands that run from the lake's eastern to western shores, Hecla is the hub of <a href="http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_parks/central/hecla.html">Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park</a>, which offers myriad outdoor activities across four seasons. <br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Once a prosperous fishing hub, Hecla failed to compete with the industry's modernization and the local school was shut down by 1970. To save the community, locals petitioned the government to create a provincial park, and it was opened in 1975 after construction of a causeway to the mainland.

The largest island in Newfoundland and Labrador (well, other than Newfoundland itself), Fogo is home to 11 communities and a lot of character. Visit the town of Tilting to learn about the region's fishing heritage and watch for caribou from the island's hiking trails. Art lovers: check in with "contemporary arts experiment" <a href="http://artscorpfogoisland.ca/">Fogo Island Arts Corporation</a> to find out about talks, open studios and other events.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> The <a href="http://www.fogoislandregatta.com/">Fogo Island Punt Race to There and Back</a> is an annual event where rowers race traditional wooden boats across open ocean, held the last Tuesday of July.

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the 12 <a href="http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/atrim-ang-696-home.cfm">Magdalen Islands</a> (Îles de la Madeleine) are accessible via car ferry from Prince Edward Island. Seafood lovers will enjoy walking the wharves to chat with fisherman and buy fresh fish for dinner. Hiking, horseback riding, kitesurfing and other active outdoor activities are available; in winter, try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or kite skiing and spend the night in a yurt.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Kayakers can traverse the Îles de la Madeleine Water Trail, which lets you explore the islands via 31 official launch sites and a network of accommodation options and services. Maps and guided tours available.

Canada's southernmost community (roughly at the latitude of the California-Oregon border) has only 300 permanent residents, but houses up to 1,500 people in summer months. It's a prime location for cycling, swimming, fishing or <a href="http://www.peleeisland.com/">wine tasting</a>.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Pelee is home to rich natural diversity and is on two major bird migration routes. The <a href="http://pibo.ca/en/">Pelee Island Bird Observatory</a>, a favourite charity of author Margaret Atwood, conducts research and runs a field station that's open to the public in spring and fall.<br />

At the top of Nova Scotia, <a href="http://cbisland.com/">Cape Breton</a> is known for its Gaelic heritage and as home to Celtic musicians such as the Rankin family and Natalie MacMaster. But it's also home to a rich variety of experiences, whether it's golfing and fine dining in Sydney or the endless photo-op of the Cabot Trail and <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton/index.aspx">Cape Breton Highlands National Park</a>.<br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Canada's only single-malt whisky is made on Cape Breton; visit the <a href="http://www.glenoradistillery.com/">Glenora Distillery</a> for daily tours and tastings, or book ahead for an in-depth whisky seminar.

Photo: Nova Scotia Tourism

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

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One of BC's Gulf Islands between the mainland and Vancouver Island, the <a href="http://www.penderisland.info/">Penders</a> (North Pender and South Pender are linked by a bridge) are accessible by ferry, float plane or private boat. Book a stay for the arts scene – studio visits are available as well as multiple annual arts festivals – or to experience the island's rich natural heritage and range of outdoor activities. <br /> <br /> <strong>Good to know:</strong> Pender Island is home to a single winery, <a href="http://www.morningbay.ca/">Morning Bay Vineyard and Estate Winery</a>, which opened in 2005 and has won several awards, including a bronze medal at the 2008 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition for its 2005 Reserve Merlot.